Ch.

25 – Population Genetics At the population level, some genes may be

The field of population genetics in concerned with
change in genetic variation within a group of
individuals over time.
20.1 Gene in Population and Hardy-Weinberg
Equation
Gene pool: All the alleles of every gene in a
population.
monomorphic, but most are polymorphic
In a population, polymorphism refers to the
observation that many inherited traits display
variation within a population.
 Polymorphism referred to the variation
in inherited traits that are observable
with the naked eye
 Color and pattern

A population is a group of interbreeding individuals

that share a gene pool
What is the underlying cause of polymorphism?
Population: Group of individuals of the same species
At the DNA level, polymorphism may be due to
that occupy the same region and can interbreed with
two or more alleles that influence the phenotype
one another
of the individual that inherits them (genetic
 Distinct population of a given spices may be variation)
located on different continent or populations
Polymorphic describes a gene that commonly
on the same continent may be divided by a
exist as two or more alleles in a population.
geographical feature such as large mountain
Monomorphic gene exist predominantly as a
A large population usually is composed of smaller
single allele in a population.
group called local populations.
At the level of a gene, a polymorphism may
 Far more likely to breed amongst themselves
involve various types of changes such as deletion
Local populations are often separated from each other of significant region of the genes of the gene, a
by moderate geographic barriers duplication of a region, or a change in a single
nucleotide.
Example:
Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), are the
The large ground finch is found on small volcanic island
smallest type of genetic change that can occur
call Daphne Major located on the Galapagos Island. within a given gene and are also the most

Daphne Major is located northwest of the much largercommon

Santa Cruz Island.
 Breeding is much more likely to occur among
member of a local population than between
member of neighboring populations
 Most populations contain a high degree of
heterozygosity
 In humans, SNP represent 90% of all the
variation in DNA.
 Likewise, a healthy population of nearly
all species exhibits a high level of genetic
variation by the occurrence of SNPS
Within a population, the alleles of a given gene mayPopulation Genetic is concerned with allele and
arise by different types of genetic changes. genotype frequencies

Figure 25.3 is an example of a short segment of DNA

found with the human β-goblin gene.

Let consider a population of 100 frogs with the

following phenotypes

These alleles differ form each other by a single

nucleotide, thus are an example of a SNP.

The HB5 allele cause sickle cell disease in a

homozygote

This deletion results in a nonfunctional β-goblin

polypeptide. (Loss of function)
The Hardy-Weinber Equation can be used to Calculate 25.2 Overview of Microevolution
Genotype Frequency based on Allele Frequencies
Darwinian Fitness is a Measure of Reproductive Directional Microevolution
Selection Favors
describes
the changes
Extreme in a
Success
Let’s return to the frog example, in which a gene is Phenotype
population’s gene pool from generation to
polymorphic and exist in tow different alleles: G and g. generation
Darwinian Fitness: The relative likelihood that one Directional selection favors individuals at one
genotype
G=p will contribute to the gene pool of the nextextreme
What
of adrives
phenotypic
Microevolution?
distribution that are
generation rather than other genotypes. more likely to survive and reproduce in a
g=q
environment.
 Natural selection acts on phenotypes that are
derived from individual’s genotypes.  Direction selection may act on
phenotypes that are largely determined
Darwinian fitness is a measure reproductive success.
by the alleles of a single gene.

The Hardy-Weinger equation predict an equilibrium –

unchanging allele and genotype frequencies from An example of directional selection is resistance
to pesticides.
generation to generation if certain condition are met:
Balanced
Stabilizingpolymorphism
Selection Favors mayIndividual
occur due with to Heterozygote
1. No new mutation  A specific example is the pesticide DDT
Advantage
Intermediate or Negative
Phenotypes Frequency-Dependent Selection
2. No Genetic Drift Certain species have become resistant to DDT by a
3. No migration AStabilizing
common misperception
Selection: extreme is thatphenotypes
natural selection always
25.325.4
dominant Natural
mutation Selection
Genetic
in aDrif
single enzyme-encoding
Why4.would
No natural
there beselection
difference in reproductive eliminate
for a traitthe
areweaker
selected alleles
against,
from and
a population.
those
gene.
5. Random Mating
success? Natural
individualsselection
GeneticwithDrif the process
intermediate
refers to changes whereby
phenotype
in allele
Balancing selection: Natural selection that favors the
organisms
have betterin
the highest
frequencies adapted
fitness to their
value
a population due to random
1. Fitness phenotype is more likely to survive maintenance of tow or more alleles in a population
environment
fluctuations.tend to survive and produce
2. Fittest phenotype is more likely to mate  offspring.
Tends to decrease genetic diversity
more
Heterozygote-Advantage
3. Fitness phenotype is more fertile  genes
for Usually affecting
result insuch traitthe
either because
loss of an allele
- Struggle
it eliminates
or itsfor existence
alleles
fixation atthat
!00%
Heterozygote advantage: variation involving cause
in thea population
a single gene,
- Individuals
balancinggreater
selection that
variation
may arise are most
in phenotypeadapted to
when the heterozygote has
Genetic
the drift leads to allele
environments will fixationand
survive even in large
a higher fitness that either corresponding homozygote.
Example:
population,
reproduce but this takes man more generations
to occur.
Birds- thatEnvironment
lay too manyselects or toothose
few eggs have
individuals that carry
lowers fitness values than those that the bestlaygenes
an
to survive
intermediate number in the enviro.

 Laying too many eggs may cause the

offspring to die due to inadequate
parental care and food.